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Original poster

StCecilias, Jonh Bosco College, Southfields College, Ashcroft...

42 replies

Vixxxen · 25/01/2014 14:35

Any comments?

OP posts:
Original poster
Vixxxen · 27/01/2014 14:21

So, if my application goes like this (in non particular order)

_Greycoat
_Burntwood
_LSM
_West London Free School

Do we have any chance? How many options I have to put down for secondary?
Also is it wise to include Vicar Reference Form and Vicar Reference Letter from the two churches I am involved with? Because DD was baptised in the one I attend less, I love it there and still go sometimes, but she prefers the other one.

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Original poster
Vixxxen · 27/01/2014 14:09

deelite72 there is only one CofE primary in my area and the catchment is so tiny that even though we can easily walk there, my Dd wasn't offered a place and was number 38 or something on the waiting list. Also she was baptised when she was around 8 months old (I had many problems when/after she was born I couldn't even think/organise baptism tbh) and even though we have a reasonable attendance we are not heavily involved in ALL aspects of the church. I can be wrong and maybe nearthewindmill can correct me, but I think that to get into this particular CofE school is preferable if you go to a particular church close to school and gets totally involved in church life.
By the time I needed to make a decision to renew my daughter's name on the school database to keep her on the waiting list, she was so happy and settled at her primary, that I didn't bother.

windmill Do I have a chance to get into Greycoat even though I live in a Wandswoth post code, Dd baptised at 8 months, no faith primary? I am definitely able to get more involved at the church life now because Dd absolutely loves going there and loves the Sunday school whereas before she just didn't want anything to do with church and as my husband works Sunday mornings, church attendance was a struggle never mind get involved (a part from the odd cake donation).

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NearTheWindmill · 27/01/2014 13:35

It isn't the same for cofe - based purely on church attendance rather than church primary. Of course the cofe secondaries mostly accept nearly half under open places too - except greycoat and that may be why it is managing to maintain better standards in spite of a broad catchment.

deelite72 · 27/01/2014 13:28

We're a religious family, Catholic primaries all the way, Mass on Sunday, the whole kit and kaboodle. And I have to say, getting into a faith secondary is difficult without attending a faith primary. Jeez it's difficult when you do attend a faith-based primary school. BUT there is always room for a couple of kids who have not attended faith-based primary schools. It is always worth applying, always. Because you never know. You can only do the best you can with the options you've got. We were sort of surprised by our own decision to send our son to a non-faith secondary after years of RC primary.

Original poster
Vixxxen · 27/01/2014 09:32

Well, I have met only one parent who has kids at St Cecilia and she gave me her opinion on the school but that is it. Dd does not attend a faith school at the moment and I have never engaged with any parent at her current school who were interested in taking about secondary schools but I am not friends with parents of Y5 or Y6 children anyway. Actually there is one parent at Dd's class who has an older child at Y5, I have tried to talk to her about secondary schools but her English isn't great and she doesn't understand what I am on about. As for the church, yes I definitely need to deal with my shyness and talk to more people. The church I used to attend have mostly older people or young parents. I am now attending another one where there are much more children in different ages and stages and I definitely need to get more involved now in secondary school gossip conversation instead of primary. Actually should have started long ago. Thanks for all the great tips, I feel a lot happier now knowing that I have so much more choices than I ever thought.

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NearTheWindmill · 27/01/2014 08:56

Nteresting vixxen - if you attend church in catchment for St Cecilia's the parents at those churches and indeed who are in the playgrounds of local primaries are usually very well plugged into secondary school gossip - that's generally a main topic of conversation.

deelite72 · 26/01/2014 23:31

Secondary is a bit different. So we lived in Richmond (have since moved to Chiswick) and applied from that borough. Only one school on our list of six was in borough, St. Richard Reynolds. The rest were out of borough. It's common for secondary school kids to come from far and wide. We got our first choice in H&F and were totally surprised and chuffed to bits.

deelite72 · 26/01/2014 23:29

St. John Bosco.... Impressive head teacher. Met him and spoke with him for about 40 minutes during the open day when my son was applying for secondary. I felt though academically, the curriculum was way behind what my son had already done in year 5. I didn't think it was the most challenging school academically. Have you considered West London Free School in H&F? Outstanding music department, great arts, and the kids seem to love learning Greek and Latin alongside Spanish and French (this is Year 7- not sure what other languages are on offer in year 8).

Original poster
Vixxxen · 26/01/2014 20:47

It is because I just started looking into secondaries now as Dd is only in Y2. I don't have friends with older children and wasn't born here. Also I was under the impression you had to be very close to school to get a child into it, like the primary system but apparently with secondaries is different? So my authority is Wandsworth, do I have a chance to get into a school in Southark and Hamnersmith and Fulham?, I had no idea. Also I am surprised there are state all girl school, I have never thought about sending Dd to an all girls school but I think it is a good idea.

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NearTheWindmill · 26/01/2014 20:28

LMS - Lady Margaret School, parson's Green. Surprised you haven't heard of it if you are local

Original poster
Vixxxen · 26/01/2014 19:52

Forgot to mention that Dd is bilingual but she is more interested in Arts than Languages.

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Original poster
Vixxxen · 26/01/2014 19:50

Thank you so much windmill, I have had a quick look at Greyoat and Burntwood.

I like Greycoat a lot but I got the feeling that Dd will be happier at Burntwood which is a real shame since we do fit the church criteria for Greycoat but we are out of Burntwood's catchment so will have to make sure to pass the Y6 exams with flying colours.

Sorry if I am babbling or talking nonsense, Dd is only in Y2 but I do want to plan secondary school already. Crazy I know, but as you can see, my locals options aren't so great.

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Original poster
Vixxxen · 26/01/2014 19:18

Oh do you have children or know children who attend any of the schools mentioned above?

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Original poster
Vixxxen · 26/01/2014 19:17

Thanks NearTheWindmill
What is LMS? Google presented me with a school in Derbyshire...
I don't know anything about Burntwood nor Greycoat but I will research now.
And maybe we fit the church criteria...we attend pretty much every Sunday and Dd is involved in Sunday school. I volunteer for some stuff but I am not a very active member in terms of practical help.

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NearTheWindmill · 26/01/2014 18:58

Burntwood? Are you local enough for LMS if you have 2 years church (although recent reports are variable) or if you have better than two years with points for sidesing, committeeing, choiring, etc, can you get a look in at Greycoat? I suspect that's best for girls in London as we speak.

Original poster
Vixxxen · 26/01/2014 18:51

Sorry, that was a lazy OP.

I am just trying to gather personal opinions and ideas about these schools or any others in the area, since we are most certainly not going private and I don't think Dd is academic enough for a Grammar.

I live locally these schools and JB, Ash and StC are the closest ones.
We attend CofE and my DC is baptised.

Anyone have or know children at these schools and can give me honest opinions on them?
Is there any school further away that might be better and Dd might have a chance to get in?

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NearTheWindmill · 25/01/2014 22:28

Comments in relation to what? You can get the factual information you need from the league tables/prospectuses.

Ashcroft seems to be on the up; St Cecilia's arrived with promises that seem to have been largely unfulfilled; Southfields does an incredibly good job with the DC who attend most of whom I suspect don't put it down as first choice - inspirational head. I know nothing about John Boscoe.

St Cecilia's of course is cofe and I believe the open places tend to be quite locally based.